Weekend in southern Oregon

Bandon Beach

This past weekend I took a drive to the southern Oregon coast. This is the area where I would go as a child to spend my summer vacation. The Oregon coast in this area has many large rock formations on the beach and just off shore. These are referred to a “sea stacks", like in hay stacks. The drive out is nice once you leave the main freeway and get to the state routes, lots of winding through tree lined river and stream valleys. There are several rivers which wind down to the sea and each river has a road that parallels it. I took the highway that goes out to the coastal town of Reedsport and this road follows the Umpqua River. At this time of year the fall salmon are coming in and the rivers have many small boats with fishermen trying their luck.



Bandon Rocks



Once on the coast, the road took me south through the town of Coos Bay and finally to the small town of Bandon, my destination. I have been to Bandon many times and always loved the beach with the big rocks. The town is nothing special but the coast is great. Heading north from Bandon, and before Coos Bay, is a wonderful area called Shore Acres and Point Argos. This is a state beach area and is very interesting to walk and hike, plus there are some beaches to go on. Like most of Oregon beaches, it can be windy and cool so you need to be prepared.

Shore Acres

Heading farther up the coast, past Coos Bay, there are many little fishing towns and surprisingly a lot of lakes very close to the ocean. Also there is a very large area of dunes. The sand dunes are fun to go out on, kind of like the desert but on the coast with fog and clouds. If you ever pass this area, stop and have a look.  There are several places to rent buggies or just hike out on the sand.

Nice beach near Florence

The town of Reedsport is nothing really but further up is Florence. This town has a nice harbor and old town, kind of touristy but it is nice to walk around in, plus a few good restaurants. At Florence you can take the highway on north to Newport or turn east and go in land, following the Siuslaw River. This is a nice drive and it takes about one hour to get to Eugene. If you stay on the 101 highway going north, the road will be mostly on the ocean, it will be slower but a great view of the ocean.